Discover the most historic city in the world...

Athens is a city rich in history and tradition. It’s a city prepared to welcome the world, the birthplace of Socrates and Plato, the home of philosophy, a cradle of democracy and is one of only a few cities to have had the honour for the second time in modern history to host the Olympic Games.

Great Architecture

In addition to its timeless monuments, Athens has built a modern infrastructure of great architectural and technological excellence. Here are some of the most popular places to visit.

The Acropolis - The Acropolis, or sacred rock of Athens dominates the city skyline and is the must see attraction whilst visiting Athens. It's the symbol of the city and has played host to some of the cities most famous religious festivals, cults and historic events that have shaped the history of Athens.

Hadrian’s Arch – Constructed in 131 AD, Hadrian's Arch is free to visit and located close to the Temple of Zeus. It was originally constructed as a gateway for a road that ran from the centre of Athens to some of the city's famous structures.

The Temple of Zeus – Located in the centre of Athens, the Temple of Zeus is the largest temple in Greece. It was dedicated in honour of Zeus, the King of the Olympic Gods.

Panathanaic Stadium – The Panathanaic Stadium is the historic Olympic stadium. Built almost entirely of granite the stadium could hold up to 70,000 spectators. It’s a great spot for photos and there is also a free audio guide for visitors.

Experience the local culture

With exception to the rich history that surrounds this beautiful city, a trip to here would not be complete without experiencing the vast array of great coffee shops, discovering the local delicacies in the famous restaurants, or tasting a tipple of the local favourites Ouzo and Tsipouro.

If you love theatre and the arts, be prepared to be amazed.

Megaron – Throughout the year, the Megaron (The Athens Concert Hall) showcases local cultural activities, theatre, famous acts, local musicians and educational events.

Athens and Epidaurus Festival – Every year between the months of July and August the Greek festival comes to Athens. The festival is popular for music and theatre lovers, showcasing a wide array of performances. The events take place at the famous Theatre of the Epidaurus. Book tickets online or through the phone.

Love to Shop

If you love to shop, Athens is the perfect destination for you, and Ilisia Hotel is perfectly base to start.

Ermou Street – Described as a shoe lovers paradise, Ermou Street is one of the five most expensive shopping streets in Europe, showcasing international fashion brands and upmarket department stores.

Attica Store – Attica is probably the most famous department store in Athens. It houses many famous fashionable shopping brands and stores, located in one of the most prestigious districts in Athens, near Syntagma Square. It includes nearly 900 famous brands including Versace, Boss, Burberry and Alexander McQueen.

Voukourestiou Pedestrian – Located in the district of Kolonaki, Voukourestiou Pedestrian or Voukourestiou Street is full of great boutique shops, including fashion, jewellery. The Attica store is located on this street.

Shopping in Maroussi – The Maroussi is Athens largest mall, on offer over 200 stores including a cinema, restaurants, cafes, fashion and beauty stores.

Travelling with the kids?

If you plan to come to the hotel with children, there is plenty to keep them occupied throughout their trip.

The Happy Train – The happy train is a great sightseeing tour that travels around some of the key tourist attractions in and around the city.

The Athens Zoo – Discover new animals, wildlife and get close to nature at The Athens Zoo. With over 2,000 animals and 400 species there is so much to see and do.

The Hellenic Chidren's Museum – The Hellenic Children's Museum is an interactive museum for children to play, explore, interact and discover.

Changing of the Guards – You should also not miss out on the changing of the guards in Syntagma Square.

If you're coming here to sightsee you can see the Acropolis, Kerameikos, Archaeological Museum, Temple of Olympian Zeus and Roman Agora can all be accessed via a 12 Euro ticket. Tickets for each of these attractions can be purchased from any of the sites.